Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Game of Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students describe what it means for a marine animal or fish to be threatened or endangered after playing game simulating extinction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them.  In this investigative lesson students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their findings. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bridge Building

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore bridges and how they are constructed. After reviewing materials on bridges, they work in groups to record their findings. They design and construct a bridge using K'NEX or straws and predict which bridge will hold the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Many? How Much?

For Teachers 1st
First graders recognize and learn the value of coins. In this instructional activity on money, 1st graders read the book Monster Money by Grace Maccarone, discuss the role of money in society, identify various coins, and explore making...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winter vs. Summer

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore the seasons. In this winter and summer lesson, students read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and Summer by Maria Ruis. Students compare the 2 seasons as they create t-charts, try on seasonal clothing, and create collages.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pharaoh Phonetics

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explore ancient Egypt. In this Egypt lesson, students use the Internet to research ancient Egypt and then participate in several activities that help them better understand Egyptian culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystem Interactions Web

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students pick an ecosystem (forest, desert, coral reef, open ocean, grassland, mountain, savanna, etc.) and design an interaction web for their chosen ecosystem. Each group shares their ecosystem's web of life with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Calder's Balancing Acts

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students learn the vocabulary of contemporary sculpture and distinguish between abstract and realistic sculpture, mobile and stabile, biomorphic and geometric. They write equations using Calder's mobiles
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harry Hears!

For Teachers K
Students explore ear anatomy and the sense of hearing. In this hearing lesson, students discuss the five senses and view a model of an ear. Students place cotton balls in their ears to simulate loss of hearing. Students use descriptive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clearly Classified

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate plants and insects.  In this science classification lesson, students create separate categories for insects and plants by characteristics.  Learners discover scientific names of insects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recycling and Resources

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine ways to conserve natural resources. In this environmental instructional activity, 6th graders read the book Just a Dream and discuss the natural resources that they recycle. Students brainstorm ways to conserve...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sorting and Graphing Animals

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students inquire about animals using SIRS Discoverer or eLibrary Elementary.  In this organizing data lesson, students sort pictures of animals in various ways and develop graphs. Students locate a mammal, reptile, fish, insect or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pigment Plucking

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars examine pigments found in different fruits and vegetables and practice the processes for extracting the pigments. Pigments are used to create artwork and a class PowerPoint presentation is made on the different types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Farm Mural

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students create farm mural that includes all the different things found on a farm.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snowy Days

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate the concept of snow and how it is formed. They are given a variety of resources in order to make information available. Students use the information in order to provide the context for an essay. They use Kid...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spinning the Eco Web

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students examine the components and relationships of ecoregions and ecosystem management. They define ecoregion and ecosystem, list ecoregions, and participate in a simulation that demonstrates the connections between parts of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mussel Identification Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students participate in an activity in which they identify mussels by choosing a set of characteristics. They review the parts of a mussel before and after the activity. They complete a worksheet to finish the activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sense of Place Through the Eyes of an Inuit Children's Author

For Teachers K
Students read books by Michael Arvaaluck Kusugak to explore life in the Artic Circle. After reading the books, students compare and contrast life in the Artic Circle to life in the United States. They write and illustrate a story about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mussel Identification Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify given species of animals, such as various mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Create a Sculpture!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students examine pictures to unearth the objects that were connected together to make the sculptures. Information about the artists and the history of the pieces created are discussed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moving Pictures

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils review various pieces of artwork to determine the location and weather of the location portrayed. Using a Harris painting, they identify the sources of power and discuss solutions for using modern technology to solve any issues. ...
eBook
Cornell University

Cornell University: Art, Design, and Visual Thinking

For Students 9th - 10th
Use the left-hand toolbar of this site to investigate an online textbook for the language of design. It provides visual examples and explanations of line, form, color, color psychology, texture, balance, proportion and many more...